ESF Summary Record 2

Assessment Area 1

Safe care and treatment

1.1 Had risks related to infection prevention and control, including in relation to COVID-19, been assessed and managed?

Yes There were systems to assess and respond to risks regarding infection prevention and control, including those associated with COVID-19.

1.2 Were there sufficient quantities of the right equipment to help the provider manage the impact of COVID-19?

Yes Essential equipment, such as personal protective equipment, was available in sufficient quantities to help you manage the impact of COVID-19.

1.3 Was the environment suitable to containing an outbreak?

Yes You had taken steps to ensure the environment was as effective as possible in containing an outbreak of COVID-19.

1.4 Were systems clear and accessible to staff, service users and any visitors to the service?

Yes Systems to ensure the environment were conducive to containing an outbreak of COVID-19 were clear and accessible to people using the service.

1.5 Were medicines managed effectively?

Yes Service users’ medicines were effectively managed, despite the increased pressures associated with COVID-19.

1.6 Had risk management systems been able to support the assessment of both existing and COVID-19 related risks?

Yes Systems enabled the continued management of known risks, as well as enabling the provider to respond to new and emerging risks, including those posed by COVID-19.

ESF Summary Record 3

Assessment Area 2

Staffing arrangements

2.1 Were there enough suitable staff to provide safe care and treatment in a dignified and respectful way during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Yes There were enough suitably skilled staff to provide people with safe care in a respectful and dignified way during the Covid-19 pandemic.

2.2 Were there realistic and workable plans for managing staffing levels if the pandemic leads to shortfalls and emergencies?

Yes There were realistic and workable contingency plans for staffing shortfalls and emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment Area 3

Protection from abuse

3.1 Were people using the service being protected from abuse, neglect and discrimination?

Yes People were being safeguarded from abuse, harassment and discrimination.

3.2 Had the provider been able to properly manage any safeguarding incidents or concerns during the pandemic?

Yes Action had been taken to properly respond to incidents, alerts or potential safeguarding incidents at the service.

ESF Summary Record 4

Assessment Area 4

Assurance processes, monitoring and risk management

4.1 Had the provider been able to take action to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of staff?

Yes Staff health, safety and wellbeing were protected despite the increased pressures associated with COVID-19.

4.2 Had the provider been able to implement effective systems to monitor and react to the overall quality and safety of care

Yes There were effective systems to monitor the overall quality and safety of care being provided at the service during the COVID19 pandemic.

4.3 Is the provider able to support staff to raise concerns during the pandemic?

Yes Staff were able to raise concerns and were supported to speak up during the pandemic.

4.4 Had care and treatment provided to people being sufficiently recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic?

Yes Care and treatment provided to people is being sufficiently recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

4.5 Had the provider been able to work effectively with system partners when care and treatment is commissioned, shared or transferred?

Yes Working arrangements and information sharing with system partners during the Covid-19 pandemic are effective.

Overall summary Effective risk management ensured that people and staff were safe. Staff were furloughed if necessary and supported to manage caring responsibilities. The service closed to visitors early in the pandemic and measures are in place to facilitate staff and essential visitors accessing the service safely. The owner of the service ensured there was sufficient PPE for staff and stock is audited weekly. IPC

ESF Summary Record 5

procedures are strong, shared equipment is disinfected between uses. Cleaning stations are available in all areas necessary. Isolation takes place in individual rooms to minimise the possible transfer of the virus around the building. No concerns regarding medicines through the pandemic. Staff were asked at the start of the lock-down about their availability for additional hours and if they would consider living in. Staff preferred to cover absence rather than use agency reducing risks. All team members worked together to ensure the safest environment and best care have been maintained. Staff needed emotional support, the RM acknowledged that stress levels have been extremely high. They confirmed that they have support should they need it and the CI advised that we could be contacted just for a chat. Safeguarding concerns were safely managed, 2 x issues dealt with successfully. Good contacts were maintained with relatives -using Skype or the phone and since lock-down was eased there have been successful socially distanced visits. People have participated in mainly 1-1 activities until a few weeks ago. Now groups. The RM had good oversight of the service throughout. Overall the service has dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic extremely well and have provided safe and effective care to people.